UNO students taking part in Seven Days of Service

University of Nebraska – Omaha is on spring break next week but instead of heading to the beach, hundreds of students will be lending a helping hand. Harnoor Singh is the coordinator for the Office of Civic and Social Responsibility and says they are taking part in the Seven Days of Service project.

Singh says, “One of the missions of the University is to instill community engagement in students and I think for us that isn’t too hard to do because folks come in with that inherent sense of wanting to give back to their community. The Seven Days of Service is an opportunity for students, staff, faculty and even community members to join us in service projects that help effect positive change in our local communities.”

Over 700 people join the service project and more than half of them are students giving up their regular spring break activities to help others. Instead of a swim suit they will be wearing gloves and work boots in assisting 80 community based organizations with projects.

Singh says some will be working at the Salvation Army serving lunch, cleaning and organize donations. Others will be at the Heart Ministry Center where they will sort donations and stock shelves. At the Literary Center of the Midlands, students will be going through the book inventory and helping keep records. He says students will be able complete a bulk of work in a short period of time – work that staff haven’t been able to get to.

Each workday has a theme ranging from social justice to health and wellness.